What are the best cheeses in the world? According to
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food — the organizers of the World Cheese Awards — said this year's event brought in more entries than ever before. "What a finale," Farrand said. "To crown Le Gruyère AOP surchoix as this year's World Champion Cheese is so well deserved.
It's no secret some of the best cheese in the world comes from France, Switzerland and Italy.
The world's rarest and most expensive cheese, known as Pule, is made out of the milk of Balkan donkeys. And it is only produced at the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve in Serbia. These donkeys are endangered and are under special protection. The process of milking takes three months.
Known as the “King of Cheeses”, Parmesan, or Parmigiano Reggiano was first produced by Benedictine and Cistercian monks a thousand years ago. Over the centuries, it has acquired global prominence and is now a hugely popular choice for food-lovers the world over.
According to Taste Atlas, at the top of the list of the world's most popular cheeses, you find Parmigiano Reggiano and Gorgonzola piccante, followed closely by Burrata, Grana padano and Oaxaca cheese (from Mexico, also known as quesillo) in the top five.
There are around 2,500 unique types of cheese made in Italy, but the undisputed King of Cheese has to be Emilia Romagna's own Parmigiano Reggiano. And taking a food tour and learning how this heavyweight is made is a real bucket list experience for foodies planning on visiting Emilia Romagna.
Hard cheeses have a much sharper, tangier taste than mild cheeses do. Cheddar, Manchego, Asiago, and Provolone are some of the most popular hard cheeses on the market. If a cheese has blue veins running through it, there's a good chance it's also a firm cheese.
Camembert is certainly the most famous cheese in France. Originally from Normandy, it is a soft cheese with a bloomy rind. Traditionally made with raw cow's milk, it can also be found made with pasteurised milk.
Brie is the best known French cheese and has the nickname "The Queen of Cheese". Brie is a soft cheese named after the French region Brie, where it was originally created.
Acclaimed as one of the world's great cheeses – in fact, often called the “Queen of Cheeses” – velvety French Brie is characterized by a downy-white edible rind and a cream-colored, buttery-soft interior that oozes at the peak of ripeness.
Limited. But it's Dairy Crest Limited who can claim not just the warrant, but also Elizabeth's favorite cheese of all: Cathedral City Cheddar (via Food Network).
Bitto Storico can be aged up to 18 years – and no, that is NOT a typo. I did say 18 years. Ten year aged Bitto Storico is the oldest you'll most likely find available for purchase in Valtellina. Though one of the oldest wheels ever sold was a 15 year old Bitto Storico that sold for about $6,400 in China.
After all, chhurpi is considered to be the hardest cheese in the world. A traditional product prepared by pastoralists in the highlands of the Eastern Himalayas, chhurpi is a protein-rich cheese with a smoky flavour and hard consistency that gradually becomes chewier the longer you gnaw at it.
In 2022, Germany was the largest exporter of cheese worldwide with exports amounting to a value of of 6.2 billion U.S. dollars, followed by the Netherlands with 5.4 billion dollars in cheese exports.
Surely, at the heart of every Wisconsinite, there is a little wedge of cheese, so it's only fitting that Plymouth, a small city in Sheboygan County, is the proclaimed Cheese Capital of the World! Spend the day amongst cheese and history, plus opportunities for family fun, with a day trip to this charming city!
The top cheese consumer is Denmark. The country consumes 28.1 kilograms of cheese consumption per capita. The second highest consumer is Iceland followed by Finland at 27.7 kilograms and 27.3 kilograms of cheese consumption per capita respectively. France follows closely at 27.2 kilograms of cheese per capita.